Thread guiding device for the winding of thread



y 1941- Q GAZIETS J j 2,243,624

THREAD GUID ING DEV-ICE FOR .THE WINDING OFITHREAD Filed April 2a, 1937 {sheets-sheet 1 li wenfor MARIUS BERNARDGAZET May 27, 1941. M. B. GAZET THREAD GUIDING DEVICE FOR THE WINDING OF THREAD Filed April 28, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MARIUD BERNARD GAZElT 4 fi flttorneys.

Patented May 1941 THREAD GUIDING DEVICE FOR THE WINDING O F THREAD Marius Bernard Gazet, Lyon, France, minor to Georges 'Decombe, Lyon, France Application April 28, 1937, Serial No. 139,423 In France May 27, 1986- 4 Claims.

' thereof.

In order to avoid the use of such a thread guide and of its complicated control mechanism, the thread to be wound is sometimes guided by means of a bearing plate having exactly the useful width of the winder, which plate is held against the spires of thread by means of a spring or counter weight. This solution, which seems to be simple, sufi'ers practical difliculties. While it is applicable to the winding of threads of various sizes or cross-sections onto bobbins in good condition and of uniform size, it cannot be applied to spools the checks of which always become more or less damaged or deformed after a certain amount of service. Furthermore this arrangement necessites a bearing plate of predetermined size depending upon the width of each type of spool.

It has also been proposed to keep the turns in contact as they are wound by means of a device, other than the member from which the thread or wire is led to the bobbin or spool, which is laterally movable and bears against the side of the last turn wound. The force due to friction required to move the device laterally presses the last turn against the previous one and produces even winding. This arrangement, however, necessitates appreciable pressure being applied to the turns and this may result in damage particularly when paper-insulated and like electrical wires are being wound.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide a guiding device for the winding of thread and the like which avoids these drawbacks, and by means of which the thread is guided exactly into its correct positionadjacent the previous turn.

Within reasonable limits, the device according to the present invention is applicable, without any previous adjustment, for the winding of threads of various sizes onto spools of any size, variations, irregularities and deformations of the cheeks and of the drum or barrel of the spool being without influence upon the working of the device, the latter being also uninfluenced by variations in the winding speed, the size, and the tension of the thread.

To this end the device according to the invention comprises a gu de member adapted to guide the wire directly onto the spool, said guide member being mounted on an arm displaceable relatively to the spool and having a heel part adapted to bear on the spool or on a layer of thread or the like wound thereon, and to be engaged laterally by the turn which has just been wound, relative movement between the guide member and the spool being produced solely as a result of said lateral engagement and of the rotation of the spool, the thread suitably tensioned passing through the guiding device and being guided thereby directly onto the spool at a point adjacent the previous turn.

The arm carrying the guide member may be relatively long and may oscillate about an axis,

either real or-imaginary, located at a suitable distance from the spool on which the thread is to be wound.

According to an embodiment intended for reducing the space occupied by the device, the arm carrying the guide member is fixed at right angles to a rod adapted to slide in a direction coinciding with its longitudinal axis and to pivot about its axis if it is straight, the movable system thus constituted being adapted to move alternately first in one direction and then in the other as the successive layers of thread are being wound.

Owing to its simplicity and to its convenient dimensions, this thread guide can be used for the winding of a cable of large size as well as for the winding of small thread or wire into a coil, and it may be incorporated in a portable apparatus.

In a similar manner, this thread guiding device can be used not only in the cable industry proper but also in rope and wire manufactures, in spinning or winding operations, and general- 1y whenever it is desired to wind or reel in a correct manner a thread, rope, cable, chain or ribbon in such manner as to obtain adjoining turns.

Preferred embodiments of the present inven-' tion will be hereinafter described, with reference to the accompanying-drawings, which are given merely by way of example, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a device of this kind;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the thread guiding member;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the position of this member when in service;

Figs. 4 and 5 are a front view and a side view respectively of a modification of the thread guide shown by Fig. 1;

Figs. 6 to 10 are views illustrating another embodiment of a thread guide of this kind;

Figs. 11 to 14 inclusive show various shapes of a spool for use in connection with a thread guide according to the invention;

vFig. 15 is a side view, in section on the line l5-|5 of Fig. 16, of a modification in which the thread guide is stationary and the drum is movable;

Fig. 16 is a corresponding plan view;

Fig. 17 is a similar diagrammatic view to that of Fig. 3 showing the thread guiding member in the position occupied when winding on the first tier or layer of thread on the spool.

Fig. 18 illustrates the same when beginning to wind on the first turn of the second layer of thread.

Fig. 19 shows the same when beginning to wind on the second turn of the second layer.

Fig. 20 illustrates diagrammatically the central position of the thread guiding member with respect to the spool and its axis.

Finally, Fig. 21 shows the same in slightly modified form when the thread guiding member is disposed at one end of its stroke.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 3 essentially includes an arm a carrying a guide g of suitable shape guiding the thread or wire 1) into the angle 4 formed by the turn a that has just been formed and by the underlying layer d. This guide is adapted to move over the whole length of the spool e and it is subjected to no force other than that of the thread b which is being wound. In order that the guide member a may not be influenced by vibrations or inclination of the spindle j of the spool e, and in order to wind the turns tightly against one another, the guide is, if necessary, braked, so that a certain eflort, transmitted by the thread is required to displace it.

The arm a carrying the guide member may be arranged in various ways, use being made of pivoted and/or slidable members. The guide might also be stationary, in which case the drum would be movable in an axial direction, as is hereinafter described.

The construction of the device will be described more especially with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings.

This device comprises a rod a at the end of which there is provided a guide member in the form of spout g, which may be either open or closed, and the bottom of which may be more or less concave, so as to permit of it being utilized for the winding of threads or wires of greatly varying sizes.

On the under side of this spout, is formed a heel part h which is held in contact with the underlying layer 11, already wound on the spool e, by the tension of the thread b.

This tension is imparted to the thread b by a thread stretching device through which the thread passes and which includes anumber of pulleys i which are freely slidable along rods 9' under the action of the thread.

The arm a at the end opposite that at which the spout g is mounted, is secured at right angles to a bar k which is adapted to slide in apertures m formed in a support 12., which bar can moreover turn in the apertures as the diameter of the winding increases.

In order to obtain turns which are tightly applied against one another, it is desirable to take the following precautions:

1. To brake, for instance by friction of springs 0 bearing against bar la, the displacement of the movable system constituted by said bar and by the arm a carrying the guide member;

2. To make heel part II. of a width less than the diameter of the cable or thread b being wound, so that the thread b which is to form the next turn exerts a pressure against the preceding turn 0.

As a matter of fact, if the heel part his not made of a width less than that of the thread, there is left between two consecutive turns of a layer an interval equal to the thickness of the edge 1 of the spout. In some cases, this might involve no disadvantage.

The reversal of the displacement of the thread guide takes place automatically upon reaching the flange of the spool when, as the last turn of the layer has been formed, a first turn of the next layer is formed against which the other face of the heel h now bears. In other words when the last turn A of a layer has been wound the thread is continued to be wound by winding the same over the first layer so as to form a new layer in which the first turn B contacts with the lateral face of heel h of the spout g op posite the face which was in contact with the previously wound turn during winding of the preceding layer. It is the reversal of the stress laterally inserted against heel h which involves the reversal of the displacement of rod a carrying the same. The bar In which carries the arm a may be straight, but it will be readily understood that if the flange or cheek of the spool is deformed, especially inwardly, this deformation which will be more pronounced at the circumference will foul the arm a, and the thread guide will thus be prevented from coming into contact with the cheek or flange. It is in order to obviate this drawback that bar is is advantageously curved (see Figure 1), so that the rod a only moves in a vertical plane perpendicular to the axis I when in its intermediate position. But when the spout is close to the inner face of a cheek of spool e, the arm a which carries it, is not perpendicular but inclined with respect to the direction of the axis j and to the plane of the cheek, said arm a being fastened perpendicularly and laterally to a curved bar. Consequently the possible deformations at a point C of the cheek, will be without influence upon the arm a of the thread guide, not coming into contact therewith.

Otherwise, if the arm a should remain parallel to the plane of the cheek of the spool, a deformation 0, in order to pass through, would force back said arm and make it deflect together with the spout 9.

Owing to this arrangement, the guide member is not prevented from coming into contact with the inner face of the cheek or flange of the spool, since when it is in contact therewith the rod a is still the said definitely spaced from the rim of the check or flange, because of the oblique position of said guide member or rod a with respect to the axis j and to theplane of the. new face of the cheek of spool e.

Of course, a given spout may be able to operate with only a given range of sizes of threads or cables. Consequently, it is advantageously detachably mounted on the end of rod a.

The substantially rectilinear displacement of bar is (Fig. 1) which carries the thread guide necessitates a certain amount of free clearance space being allowed on either side of its support.

In other words. clearance space on either side of.

the spool allows the rod a to move freely in front of said spool because the bar k which carries it operates in the mentioned clearance space and is therefore not impeded or obstructed during displacement, the space corresponding on either side to about half the width of the spool e. In order to obviate this drawback, the device may be arranged as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The arm a is attached to a fork-shaped member ll freely rotatable at 12 about a sleeve l3, which is mounted loosely on a curved bar l4 carried by the support 11.

The width of this sleeve and its internal profile are so chosen that it cannot only turn but can slide freely in both directions (arrows 35) over the whole length of bar It.

The thread or wire I5 to be wound on the spool I6 is led into the spout 9* after passing through the groove of a pulley II. This pulley I! is rigid with sleeve l3 the movement of which will be transmitted to the pulley when the sleeve i3 is subjected to the lateral thrust of the turn that has just been wound.

A fork H3 or any other suitable guide keeps the thread l5 opposite the groove of the pulley II.

If necessary, the braking of the displacement of sleeve l3 along bar It may be obtained for instance by means of springs 19 attached to the member II and bearing against bar H.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 6 to 10.

In this embodiment, a frame 2| is adapted to pivot in a support 22 about journals 23 the axis of which is parallel to that of the spool on which the cable or thread 2t is to be wound.

The arm 25 which carries the guide member is attached to the frame 2! by means of a pivot bolt 26 at right angles to the axis of journals 23. A spring 21, interposed between the head of the bolt 26 and the frame 2i, permits, for instance, by screwing the nut of bolt 26, the friction between the arm 25 and the frame 2i being varied.

Finally, at a short distance from said frame, a grooved pulley 28, around which passes the thread 2Q to be Wound, is mounted loosely on a bar 29 carried by the support 22, so as to be movable over the whole length of the bar during the winding of the thread 24 in either direction (arrows 36) In a portable apparatus, in order to avoid occupying an excessive space, the arm 25 must be relatively short, which has the disadvantage of giving it, when it is close to the checks or flanges of the spool, a considerable obliqueness with respect to its intermediate or central position. In this extreme position, the heel 30 (Figs. 8 to is oblique and, if it is too long, it brings the end of the spout g away from the preceding turn of thread on the spool and prevents closely adjoining turns being obtained. It is therefore necessary, in this case, to provide a heel 30, of relatively small length, such as is shown in. Figs. 8 to 10.

Whatever be the embodiment that is chosen, the guiding device according to the invention may be employed not only with spools having a cylindrical drum or barrel, but also with spools having a conical (Fig. 12) or polygonal (Fig. 13) drum.

The thread may also be wound on spools the cheeks or flanges 6 of which are not perpendicular to the axis. but curved, either inwardly or outwardly, as shown by Figs. 11 and 14.

As above stated, the thread guide may be kept stationary in the axial direction, spool 43 being allowed to move in the direction of its axis under 3 the effect of the pressure exerted by the heel of the thread guide on the winding, as shown by Figs. 15 and 1,6.

This arrangement is particularly applicable to the case of spools driven by lower rollers 31 which give it a rotary movement. whereas the translatory movement toward the, right or toward the left, to the end positions 38 and 39 is produced by the action of the heel of the guide member 40, which can only pivot in a vertical plane about its axis ll, mounted in bearings 42.

In a general manner, while I have, in the above description disclosed what I deem to be practical and eilicient embodiments of the present invention, it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition. and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now fully described my invention, I

' claim:

1. In the combination with a spool adapted to turn about its axis for the winding of a thread thereon, a support and an arm movably carried by said support, the features comprising a spoutlike guide member at one end of said arm which is directed toward said spool, means upon said support tending to limit said arm to a curved path of travel between the checks of the spool, means for feeding the thread under tension to said guide member, said arm being free to move relatively to said spool and its one end which is provided with the guide member being adapted to move diametrically and axially with respect to said spool, the axial displacement corresponding to an oscillation of said arm on each side of the middle plane normal to the axis of said spool, said arm thus assuming a position which is inclined in proportion as its mentioned one end approaches a check of the spool, means for braking the axial displacement of said arm, and a skid-like projection carried by said guide memher so as to slide on said spool and to be engaged laterally against the spire that has just been wound, in order to cause the thread suitably tensioned to pass through the said guide member and be guided thereby directly onto the spool at a point adjacent the previous turn to form a new spire in close contact with the preceding one, the relative movement between the guide member and the spool being a result of the lateral engagement of the skid-like projection on the guide member against the spire on the spool a during the rotation of said spool.

2. In the combination with a spool adapted to turn about its axis for the winding of a thread thereon, a support and an arm carried thereby, the feature comprising a curved bar slidable on said support in a direction nearly parallel to the axis of said spool, and tending to limit the arm to a curved path of travel between the checks of the spool, said arm being movably carried by said bar'transversely to said axis, a spout-like guide member at one end of said arm which is directed toward said spool, means for feeding the thread under tension to said guide member, said arm being free to move relatively to said spool and its one end which is provided with said guide member being adapted to move diametrically and axially with respect to said spool, the axial displacement corresponding to an oscillation of said arm on each side of the middle plane normal to the axis of said spool and said arm, due to the curvature of said curved bar carrying the arm thus assuming a position which is inclined in proportion as its mentioned end approaches a cheek of the spool, means for braking theaxialdisplacement of said arm, and a skid-like projection carried by said guide member so as to slide on said spool and be engaged laterally against the spire that has just been wound, in order to cause the thread suitably tensioned to pass through the said guide member and be guided thereby directly onto the spool at a point adjacent the previous tiu-n to form a new spire in close contact with the preceding one, the relative movement between the guide member and the spool being a result of the lateral engagement of the skid-like projection on the guide member against the spire on the spool during the rotation of said spool.

3. In the combination with a spool adapted to turn about its axis for the winding of a thread thereon, a support and an arm carried thereby, the features comprising a curved bar extending in a general direction nearly parallel to the axis of said spool, tending to limit the arm to a curved path of travel between the cheeks of the spool and a sleeve adapted to slide along said bar and to turn about the same, said arm being mounted on and to turn about said sleeve, a spout-like guide member at the one end of said arm which is directed toward said spool, means for feeding the thread under tension to said guide member, said arm being free to move relatively to said spool and its one end which is provided with said guide member being adapted to move diametrically and axially with respect to said spool, the axial displacement corresponding to an, oscillation of said arm on each side of the middle plane normal to the axis of said spool and said arm, due to the curved bar carrying the arm and sleeve thus assuming a position which is inclined in proportion as its end approaches a cheek of the spool, means for braking the axial displacement of said arm, and a skid-like projection carried by said guide member so as to slide on said spool and be engaged laterally against the spire that has just been wound, in, order to cause the thread suitably tensioned to pass through the said guide member and be guided thereby directly onto the spool at a point adjacent the previous turn to form a new spire in close contact with the preceding one, the relative movement between the guide member and the spool being a result of the lateral engagement of the skidlike projection on the guide member against the spire on the spool during the rotation of said spool.

4. In the combination with a spool adapted to turn about its axis for the winding of a thread thereon, a support and an arm movably carried by said supp rt, the features comprising a spoutlike guide member at one end of said arm which is directed toward said spool, means upon said support tending to limit the arm to a curved path oi travel between the cheeks or the spool, means for feeding the thread under tension to said guide member, said arm being free to move relatively to said spool and its one end which is provided with the guide member being adapted to move diametrically and axially with respect to said spool, the axial displacement corresponding to an oscillation of said arm on each side of the middle plane normal to the axis of said spool, said arm thus assuming a position which is inclined in proportion as its mentioned one and approaches a cheek of the spool, means for braking the axial displacement of said arm, a skidlike projection carried by said guide member so as to slide on said spool and to be engaged laterally against the spire that has just been wound, in order to cause the thread suitably tensioned to pass through the said guide member and be guided thereby directly onto the spool at a point adjacent the previous turn to form a new spire in close contact with the preceding one, the relative movement between the guide member and the spool being a result of the lateral engagement of the skid-like projection on the guide member against the spire on the spool during the rotation 01 said spool, said braking means including a spring, and a frame pivoted on said support about an axis parallel to the axis of said spool, said arm being frictionally and pivotally mounted to be pivotable with said spring to allow the braking to occur on said frame about an axis which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said frame.

MARIUS BERNARD GAZET. 

